Antrim Camogie League – Division 1
Brídíní Óga Glenravel 0-12 Ruairí Óg Cushendall 1-16
Seamus McAleenan reports from Fr Maginn Park
This Division 1 game in Glenravel on Tuesday evening may have been competitive from start to finish, but the points always looked to be heading towards the coast, with Ruairí Óg managing to keep just ahead and then seal the deal with a goal in the 51st minute from Orlagh O’Hara that had a touch of luck attached to it.
However overall it was a tough enough battle with probably the difference between the teams the fact that the home team hadn’t as wide a range of scorers as the visitors, who could move players around to effect.
Cushendall got the better start with points from Orlagh O’Hara (free) and Sinéad Cosgrove, but by the end of the opening quarter it was 0-4 each with two Kirsten Edgar frees and singles from Shauna McDonnell and Megan McKillop matched by another O’hara free and a long range point from Dervla Cosgrove.
However over the next five minutes, Cushendall opened a three point gap and, although Glenravel brought it back to 0-8 to 0-7, Naomi McCurry and Orlagh O’Hara (free) closed the first half scoring at 0-10 to 0-7.
There was however a goal chance when Ashling Millar broke loose and fired a bullet from 25 metres, but Tierna Carson stood up to it and cleared well.
Cushendall opened the second half strongly with points from O’Hara and Colleen Patterson in the first minute, but Brídíní Óga settled and frees from Kirsten Edgar narrowed the gap to 0-12 to 0-10.
Dervla Cosgrove shot a long range free before the match winning goal arrived, a long punt from the back of midfield deceiving the home ‘keeper and ending in the back of the net.
At the other end, there were a couple of goal chances for the home side, but the defence closed them out and Ruairí Óg took the league points.
It means that they move ahead of the Glenravel girls in the league table with a couple of games still to play, while Brídíní Óga have completed their programme and sit mid-table.
Ruairí Óg: Tierna Carson, Caoimhe McNaughton, Clare Kearney, Aoife McClafferty, Nuala McQuillan, Laura McMullan, Caoimhe O’Hara, Dervla Cosgrove (0-3, 0-2 frees), Sinead Cosgrove (0-1), Ellen Leech (0-1), Colleen Patterson (0-1), Naomi McCurry (0-1), Gemma Black (0-3), Orlagh O’Hara (1-4, 0-3 frees), Brogan Abram ((0-2).
Sub : Meabh Allen for D Cosgrove
Brídíní Óga : Rachael McBride capt., Bern Convery, Laoise McKenna, Sian McNeill, Lianne Kerr, Ellen Hynds, Joanne McKeown, Kirsten Edgar (0-8 frees), Kirsty Laverty (0-1), Bronagh Laverty, Shauna Kelly (0-1), Shauna McDonnell (0-1), Ashling Millar, Oonagh Ward, Megan McKillop (0-1).
Subs : Maria McKenna for M McKillop, Leona Traynor for J McKeown.
Referee : Darren Mullan
Pics by Dylan McIlwaine